Regularly consuming processed red meat such as bacon, hot dogs, sausages and salami may increase the risk of developing dementia, according to new research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in the US.

This study tracked more than 130,000 people for 43 years and found that more than 8% of participants developed dementia. Those who ate processed red meat about twice a week had a 14% higher risk of dementia than those who ate it less than three times a month.

Dementia is a set of symptoms that affect memory, thinking and social abilities so severely that it interferes with daily life, most commonly caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions.

However, the study also suggests that replacing processed red meat with nuts and legumes, such as beans and peas, may reduce the risk of dementia.

Replacing one serving of processed red meat each day with one serving of nuts, beans or tofu reduces the risk of dementia by 20%.

“We found that long-term intake of processed red meat may significantly increase the risk of dementia,” said Yuhan Li, lead author of the study and a research assistant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Most processed red meat is considered ultra-processed foods, made with ingredients that are not typically used in home cooking, such as high-fructose corn syrup and artificial additives.

Processed red meat, as well as items like chips, ice cream, and instant soups, are also ultra-processed and have been linked to a variety of health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

The saturated fat, sodium, iron and nitrites in processed red meat have been specifically linked to an increased risk of stroke, long-term inflammation, high blood pressure and neurological disorders.

“Processed red meat also increases the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes due to its high content of harmful substances such as nitrites and sodium,” Lee said.

The study participants’ diets were assessed every two to four years, using questionnaires about their intake of processed red meat, nuts and legumes. More than 11,173 of the 130,000 participants developed dementia.

Researchers found that eating high amounts of processed red meat each day was associated with cognitive decline, affecting the ability to understand and recall information.

In contrast, eating nuts and legumes instead of processed red meat was associated with less cognitive decline with age. The study found no significant link between eating unprocessed red meat, such as hamburgers and steak, and dementia.

This research is among growing evidence linking the intake of ultra-processed foods to cognitive decline. Previous studies in the U.K. and Brazil have also linked ultra-processed foods to dementia and faster cognitive decline.